• 12 Apr 2024

Mangal Pandey

Why in News?

Remembering legendary freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his death anniversary.

• He is considered the pioneer of the ‘Indian Rebellion of 1857’.

Key Points

• He was born on 19^th July, 1827, in a town near Faizabad, what is now eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• He joined the 34^th Bengal Native Infantry of the British East India Company.
  • He revolted against the East India Company for introducing cartridges that were greased with animal fat as it hurt the religious sentiments of the soldiers.
  • Eventually, this movement of rebels reached other parts of India and which led to a mass revolt against the government.
  • The movement of protest and rebellion came to be known as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also known as the First War of Independence.
• On 29^th March, 1857, Pandey and his fellow sepoys rose up in rebellion against the British officers and even attempted to shoot them. As a result of this, he was executed on 8^th April, 1857, in Barrackpore.
• In October 1984, as a tribute to his efforts, the Government of India issued a postage stamp with his image.

Two people drowned in the Tons River

Why in News?

Recently, Two people drowned in Tons river in a village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• The Tons is the largest tributary of the Yamuna. It flows through Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, touching Himachal Pradesh.
• It is one of the most major perennial Indian Himalayan rivers.
• It originates at a height of 6,315 metres from the Bandarpunch Mountain in Uttarakhand.
• It carries more water than the Yamuna itself, which it meets below Kalsi near Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• The Pabbar and Asan rivers are the main tributaries of the Tons River.
  • The Asan is a confluence of two small river systems, one comprising streams flowing south from the Himalayan range running from Vikas Nagar towards Tehri (with Mussorie in the centre), and the other comprising streams flowing north-west from the lower Shiwalik hills (that separate Dehradun and Saharanpur districts).

Yamuna River

• The Yamuna River is one of the major tributaries of the Ganges in Northern India.
• It forms an integral part of the Yamuna-Ganga Plain, one of the world's most extensive alluvial plains.
• It has its source in the Yamunotri Glacier at an elevation of 6,387 meters on the southwestern sides of Banderpooch crests in the lower Himalayan ranges.
• It meets the Ganges at the Sangam (where Kumbh mela is held) in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
• Important dams are Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam (Uttarakhand), Tajewala Barrage Dam (Haryana) etc.
• Important Tributaries are Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.
• Government Initiatives Related to Yamuna River:
  • Yamuna Action Plan
  • Delhi Government’s Six-Point Action Plan to Clean Yamuna by February 2025

New Transformers in Prayagraj

Why in News?

According to the Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), they are guaranteeing round the clock electricity supply in Prayagraj, covering both urban and rural regions of the district.

Key Points

• To prevent power outages caused by faulty transformers, Prayagraj's urban areas have received 294 new transformers.
  • To enhance the electricity supply, two additional sub-stations were to be constructed in the city, with one station in Malawa prepared to commence operations from April 2024.
• Attempts have also been undertaken to reduce electrical malfunctions stemming from deteriorating electrical cables.

Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL)

• It is a co-successor of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited aimed for distribution of Electric Power in the Eastern area of Uttar Pradesh.
• It was established on 5 July 2003, having its headquarters at Varanasi.

Dharohar Kashi Ki

Why in News?

The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) has scheduled a two-day grand event 'Dharohar Kashi Ki' on April 13 and 14, 2024 to showcase and support the handicrafts and handloom products of Varanasi.

Key Points

• According to Rajya Sabha member and IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, ambassadors of over 20 countries would visit Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the majestic riverfront through a boat expedition, and watch Ganga Aarti.
• The fashion show titled ‘Banarasi Saree - a fusion of Indian heritage and skilled artisans’ organized by well-known fashion designer Manish Malhotra is set to take place at NaMo Ghat.
  • It will feature Bollywood actors Kriti Sanon and Ranveer Singh showcasing Varanasi's crafts on the runway.
  • During the fashion show, a cultural and musical performance will be presented by renowned Bhojpuri singer and actor Ravi Kishan.
• IMF would also pay tribute to distinguished weavers, who have greatly contributed to the advancement and safeguarding of the exquisite crafts of Kashi.

Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF)

• IMF is a non- government organization, founded by Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor Chandigarh University.
• Its main objective is to foster a sense of national pride among minority groups by highlighting their shared history, culture, and contributions to the nation, and by encouraging active participation in civic life.

Human-Wildlife Conflict in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

According to the sources, Uttarakhand’s Nainital and Pauri districts' remote villages are facing migration due to increasing human-wildlife conflict and poor connectivity in rural areas, which leads to a fluctuating health graph.

Key Points

• Over the past decade, 264 individuals lost their lives to large felines in Uttarakhand, with leopards being responsible for 203 deaths and tigers for 61.
• These wildlife incidents have caused significant disruptions in the affected areas, leading to the closure of schools and triggering protests in villages such as Sawaldeh, Patrani, Dhela, and Pauri.
  • The state government established the country’s first human-wildlife conflict-mitigating cell, allocated special funds to compensate affected families, and introduced a helpline number. However, the state of affairs is still unstable.
• Wildlife attacks have influenced electoral events in the area. In Tehri in 2022, locals refused to participate in assembly elections, mirroring actions taken during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Pauri.